Nebraska sweeping yet another B1G series, extending their winning streak to ten games and conference record to 11-1 was the big story today. This is especially important as the Cornhuskers are entering what shapes up to be their toughest stretch of the season, hosting Kansas and Creigton in midweek games and going on the road to Oregon before hosting USC in two weeks.
Cooper Katskee pitched a season high seven innings, and was very impressive once he got through his typical slow start. He surrendered two runs to start off the game in the first inning with a lead-off single to Jayden Davis and a two-run home run to Michael Anderson. His only other blip was a solo home run to Anderson in the third inning.
Down 2-0, Nebraska caught fire against Nittany Lion starter Isaiah Shayter in the bottom of the second inning. Will Jesske led off with a single and scored a couple of pitches later on a Joshua Overbeek double. Drew Grego then blasted his fourth home run of the season to put Nebraska up 3-2.
Nebraska wasn’t done as Rhett Stokes swinging his hot bat singled. Mac Moyer followed with one of his own. With no outs and two on, Jeter Worthley lashed a double to put two more runs on the board. After two innings, it was 5-2 Nebraska.
After Anderson’s second homer, Nebraska was back at it. Jesske walked and Overbeek singled which brought up Rhett Stokes. Once again, he came through with a three-run dinger. Nebraska was now up 8-3.
That lead held, though the Cornhuskers had at least one runner on base in each of the following innings, until the ninth. After Kevin Mannell sat Penn State down in order in the eighth, Chase Olson was called on to end the game. Unfortunately, that was not to be.
Olson walked the two batters he faced, and while Nebraska had a five-run lead, Coach Rob Childress opted to bring in Pryce Bender. The Oklahoma native did not fare much better as he served up a single to Jack Porter to load the bases and walked in a run by giving Avery Smith a free pass.
Having seen enough and with the top of the order lingering, Coach Childress made the call to the bullpen and brought in J’Shawn Unger. He gave up a run on a wild pitch and another when his defense turned a double play. Nebraska was now holding on to an 8-6 lead. After getting a walk and bringing the tying run to the plate, Unger got Preston Yaucher to ground out to Carey. Ball game! Nebraska 8, Penn State 6.
The bottom third of the batting order came through huge once again for the second time in two days. The stars at the top of the lineup do their thing, but today Overbeek, Grego, and Stokes accounted for half of the eight runs and were a collective six for eleven. The had six RBI, two doubles and two home runs. This current lineup of Cornhusker hitters is tough to navigate for opposing pitchers.
Kansas sits in second place in the Big XII and are 22-10 on the season. They have been a formidable opponent the last few years and would like nothing more than to end Nebraska’s undefeated streak at home. Oregon just lost a series to Michigan on the road and will be looking to prove that they belong on top of the conference when Nebraska heads to Eugene next weekend.
Notes:
- Nebraska is 15-0 at Haymarket Park. You need to win the games you play at home and Nebraska is doing that this season.
- Cooper Katskee’s numbers on the day were seven complete innings pitched, giving up three runs on three hits, striking out six and walking three. Two of the three hits were Michael Anderson home runs. Katskee’s ERA now sits at 2.79 and his record is 5-0. Not bad for the Sunday starter.
- Four Nebraska players had two hits in today’s game. Mac Moyer was 2 for 4 with a walk. Joshua Overbeek was 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk. Drew Grego was 2 for 4 with a double and a home run with two RBI. And Rhett Stokes was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI.
- Nebraska once again won in their Texas Tech uniforms. Apparently, they are on the right side of karma.
